Adding Bobby Buckets

Toews should get at least twice that AAV

Would you trade Toews one for one with Shayne Gostisbehere?

Although 2 years is a strange amount of time for a bridge deal, I could see that working with the current cap situation. It gets Boychuk and Hickey off the books and by that time the cap might be increasing as well. I could see giving Toews a bit more, but going 2 years with Barzal and Toews may be the smartest.

I think the Kings trade is realistic because although Leddy does have value, get out from Komorov is important. LA has room and doesn't want to part with higher draft picks. If you're willing to essentially give away an asset, this would work (Lou doesn't like to do that though).

The two years is for the exact reason you explained. I think cap wise the Kings trade is the best case. If I were GM I would love that trade. But if they want to move the Ladd/Boychuk contracts I can see trade just being Leddy, then maybe Bailey goes. A lot of moving parts

I would think they'd want to move as many of those bad contracts as possible. But so are others so there are definitely going to be teams stuck with bad money. There aren't easy to buy out contracts on the Isles either (except for maybe Hickey if you don't want to play him).

The only downside to this is that it will be tough to add to the roster for those two years. With Pelech, Beauvilier and Sorokin coming up RFA's before that you either need more bridge deals (too many are not a good idea) or needing to move one. Tough but flat cap land is trouble for all.